The reconstruction of the Zadar waterfront begins soon, Škifić: “This is the most beautiful contract we have signed”

„This is the most beautiful contract we have signed”, stated the Port of Zadar Authority’s General Manager after today’s signing of contract with the Contractor for works which will be performed within the project “Reconstruction and construction of the port infrastructure City of Zadar – Peninsula”, better known as the reconstruction of the Zadar waterfront.

Following the completed public procurement procedure, the tender of the Joint venture Adriaing d.o.o. with headquarters in Koper, the Republic of Slovenia and Adriaing d.o.o. Buje was selected, in the amount of HRK 47,798,253.94 without VAT, or HRK 59,747,817.43 with VAT.

“We have built almost everything that could have been built on the coast in Slovenia, and now we are expanding to Croatia. Last year we completed an equally demanding and significant project of the Poreč waterfront and we are pleased to be able to participate in this project now. Our task is to perform all works within the deadline, and ensure the quality of the works” said Nino Filipin, director of the company specialising in this type of works.

The Mayor of Zadar Branko Dukić had a message for the Contractors:

“This is as if you are touching the stones of the St. Donat’s church, so be careful, responsible and cautious with the waterfront!”

The Mayor added he was glad that the signing of the contract for this grand project took place after the end of the election campaign, because some projects remained in its shadow.

“Beautiful is our city’s waterfront, says an emotional song and this is also an emotional moment taking place in a terminal that always reminds me how the people of Zadar transform dreams into reality. Our waterfront, this marvellous nook of our lives, has welcomed its final renovation and arrangement. We have talked so much about it, discussed, opposed views, just in order to return to the beginning and agree that it should be arranged, snatched away from the ravages of time that consumed its retaining walls and stone slabs, and conserve it as it once was. I am sorry that the State Secretary Josip Bilaver and Minister Oleg Butković are not here because I remember a series of conversations that we had with them, especially after the last storm that hit the waterfront. They kept their word and I thank them for that”, said Dukić.

The works, which will last for 27 months, include the reconstruction of the quay wall of Coast of King Petar Krešimir IV, 905,82 m long and 5,0 to 5,6 m wide, as well as the reconstruction (of approx. 64,5 m) and the extension (15 meters long) of the existing pier. The project also envisages the reconstruction of the coastal hinterland of the Liburnian Coast, 600 m long, and 5 m wide.

“We are talking about the quay wall, the coastal hinterland, and the part that especially makes me happy, the mole (pier) which will look as it looked when it was built. My late grandfather used to tell me that once here was an Austrian engineer that was taken in a small boat for a year up and down in every possible weather and then the waterfront got a mole of that size on that spot. That mole is not here accidentally, it protected both the eastern and the western parts of the waterfront from the gusts of mistral and the “Jugo” (the SE wind). I hope that by extending the mole we will restore the old original glow of the waterfront. Half a billion Kuna was invested in port infrastructure in one mandate, and this project sends message that we are not stopping, but safely continuing to develop our maritime and port infrastructure”, said the President of the Port of Zadar Authority’s Management Board and the Zadar County Prefect Božidar Longin pointing out that the waterfront is the place that holds many memories.

The General Manager of the Port of Zadar Authority which is carrying out the project also spent his youth on the same waterfront.

“I am exceptionally honoured to sign a contract by which, during the next 27 months, our waterfront will become exactly as it should be, making all of us Zadar residents who live and will live with it proud. We will try to optimise the works dynamics in accordance with all factors in this project, to allow our residents and tourists to use the waterfront for as many days as possible while at the same time taking care of the set deadline, which is December 2023”, said Škifić thanking the Government of the Republic of Croatia for everything it has done for Zadar projects in the past years.

The total value of the project “Reconstruction and construction of the port infrastructure City of Zadar – Peninsula” is HRK 67,489,388.11, of which HRK 56,616,917.39 is co-financed by the European Union from the Cohesion Fund, while the national contribution is HRK 9,991,220.72.

Aware of the significance of the location of the works and the important role that the waterfront plays in the lives of Zadar residents and its visitors, the Port of Zadar Authority has devised, as a special category, interesting stories about the Zadar waterfront that show its cultural, historical and social value.